Mid-Hudson Children's Museum facts for kids
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| Former name | Mid-Hudson Children's Museum |
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| Established | 1989 |
| Location | 75 North Water Street, Poughkeepsie, NY |
| Type | Children's Museum |
| Visitors | ~80,000 annually |
| Public transit access | Poughkeepsie, Metro-North Hudson Line |
The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum (MHDM) is a super fun place for kids and families! It's a special children's museum located in the beautiful Hudson River Valley in New York. This museum helps children learn and explore through exciting, hands-on activities.
MHDM used to be called the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum. In 2022, it expanded its programs to include older kids, up to age 12. This means even more children can enjoy its amazing exhibits! The museum is a non-profit organization. It gets support from visitors buying tickets and memberships, program fees, donations, and special grants. About 80,000 people visit MHDM every year. Many dedicated volunteers also help run the museum.
Contents
Discover the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum!
How the Museum Started and Grew
The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum began in 1989. A group of people in Poughkeepsie wanted to create a special learning place for children. For many years, the museum operated in different donated spaces. It even spent time at the South Hills Mall.
In 2002, the museum found its permanent home. It moved to 75 North Water Street in Poughkeepsie. The building itself is interesting! It's an old brick industrial building from the mid-1800s. This location is right by the Hudson River. It's also just a short walk to a tall elevator. This elevator takes you up to the Walkway over the Hudson. The Walkway is a long park that used to be a railroad bridge.
The museum has continued to grow and improve. In 2015 and 2016, big upgrades were made. These included creating a brand-new Science Center. An outdoor Children's Garden was also added for more outdoor fun and learning.
Planning Your Visit
Visiting the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum is easy and exciting! As of 2026, general admission costs $15 per person. Children under one year old can enter for free. The museum also offers special discounts. These are for American military personnel with ID. Discounts are also available for EBT or SNAP cardholders.
If you plan to visit often, you can get an annual membership. This allows frequent visitors to enjoy the museum all year long.
Working Together: Museum Partnerships
The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum works with many partners. These partnerships help the museum grow, offer new programs, and create amazing exhibits.
Helping Hands: The Dyson Foundation
The Dyson Foundation is a special organization in the Hudson Valley. They help improve people's lives by providing grant funding. In 2010, the Dyson Foundation did something very helpful for the museum. They bought the museum building! This made sure MHDM would always have a home on the waterfront.
The foundation also provides ongoing support for the museum's daily operations. Recent funding helped install an elevator. This elevator makes the museum easier to access for everyone. It helps visitors with disabilities and older guests. They also supported staff training and planning for the future.
Special Programs for Local Groups
MHDM has programs for local businesses and agencies. The Agency Pass Program and Corporate Membership Program let these groups buy memberships. These memberships can be used by their employees and the children they care for. It's a great way for more families to experience the museum.
Explore and Play: Museum Exhibits
The museum has five main areas, each with many exciting exhibits. These attractions are designed to be hands-on and fun for different age groups.
Fun for Our Youngest Visitors (Ages 0-4)
The Early Learning Junction (ELJ) is perfect for children aged 0 to 4. This area helps prepare young children for school. Toddlers can improve their motor skills, like moving and grasping. They also develop their thinking skills, reading readiness, and how to interact with others.
Imagination Playground is another favorite. It has giant, soft foam blocks. Kids can use these blocks to build anything they can dream up! It's all about open-ended play and creativity.
Build, Imagine, and Discover!
Rivertown is a very popular part of the museum. Here, visitors can step into MHDM's own miniature town. It features a tiny fire station, a kitchen, a construction site, and more! This attraction helps children develop their thinking skills. It encourages immersive play where they can pretend and explore different roles.
Science Adventures for All Ages
The Science Center @ MHDM opened in 2016. It's all about boosting critical thinking skills through early STEM education. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. This center is for children aged 0 to 12.
Some popular exhibits include the Wonderdome. This exhibit lets you explore the amazing science of light. Another exhibit is Lift-and-Link. It has many different building materials for children to experiment with.
The newest attraction is Science Revealed! This was part of the museum's rebranding in 2022. With this addition, MHDM officially expanded its learning capacity. It now includes exhibits for children up to age 12. Science Revealed! has 16 custom-made, hands-on science exhibits. Visitors can physically explore motion, air, forces, fluids, and magnetism. It's a full-body adventure into science!
Beyond the Museum Walls
The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum doesn't just offer fun inside its building. It also reaches out to the community with special programs and events.
Fresh Food at the Waterfront Market
In 2017, MHDM started the Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market. This public farmers market brought fresh farm produce to families and visitors in the City of Poughkeepsie. The market officially ended in October of 2025.
Learning Programs and Field Trips
The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum offers hands-on programs. These programs help children explore the world, practice skills, and learn new things. MHDM also provides exciting field trip opportunities. Students from PreK through 5th grade can visit. They get to learn in a real-world environment. They experience things firsthand, use their senses, and improve their critical thinking skills.
Museum field trips usually last about 2.5 hours. They are held on days when the museum is closed to the public. MHDM offers two types of field trips:
- Explorer: Classes can explore the exhibits at their own pace.
- Discovery: Classes also work on a special STEM-based project. These projects connect with New York State Science and NGSS Standards.
MHDM also takes its learning programs to other places. They offer outreach programs for schools, libraries, and other organizations in the nearby area.
